Welp, we suppose it was inevitable that this would happen. We're actually surprised it took Sony this long to copy Nintendo's phenomenally successful idea. (We're going to assume that third-party licencing held up the process somewhat.)

Here's what we know about the device so far.

What is it?

The PlayStation Classic is a retro remake of the original PlayStation/PSX console (which was retroactively dubbed 'PlayStation One' after the release of the PlayStation 2.) It is approximately 45% smaller, as depicted in the image below.

Image: Sony

The original console launched way back in 1995 and helped to usher in the 3D gaming era. Many iconic video game franchises that are still going strong today - including Metal Gear Solid, Tomb Raider, Resident Evil and Grand Theft Auto - originally debuted on this console.

PlayStation Classic Australian release date

The PlayStation Classic will go on sale on December 3, 2018. Sony is aiming this thing squarely at Christmas shoppers and make no mistake.

PlayStation Classic Australian price

The PlayStation Classic will sell for $149.99 in Australia. That's a tad higher than SNES Classic which retailed for $119.99. When you consider actual current-gen consoles sell for under $300, this could be a little too high for the average nostalgia fan.

PlayStation Classic games

Curiously, Sony has not released a full games lineup for the PlayStation Classic console. We do know that it will ship with 20 "generation-defining games". Confirmed titles include Ridge Racer 3, Final Fantasy 7, Jumping Flash and Tekken 3. It's a safe bet that most of the titles will be from studios owned by Sony or franchises it still holds the rights to.

PlayStation Classic ports and controllers

The PlayStation Classic will come with two controllers and connect to your TV via HDMI. There's no word whether it will ship with a separate power supply or run directly off USB power. Much like the Nintendo NES Classic, the PlayStation Classic's games media port is purely aesthetic - so don't get excited about mini disc releases of old video games.

The power button works just like the original, while the reset button now suspends games. The open button now "changes virtual discs". We think this means it takes you back to the inbuilt library.

Should you buy one?

Before we can answer that question we'll need to see the full list of games. But we will say one thing: the PlayStation One is very much a product of its time. The games for the system have not aged well. Despite coming out several years after the Nintendo SNES, they lack the timeless quality of the older console's best 2D offerings. But we remain cautiously optimistic.

Brush up on your gaming history. Nintendo came up first with the idea of using CD-ROMs for the SNES successor, as the natural evolution of using floppy discs in the later life of the Famicom. Sony was brought in because their experience developing optic discs and they jointly worked on much of what later would become the PSX (even the name "Play Station" was initially proposed by Nintendo!)

Then, Nintendo found out that their agreement with Sony was disadvantageous, as it'd grant Sony the rights of the titles published in the system and broke it up. Sony would go to finish the work done and release it as their own console, while Nintendo, after another failed dalliance with Phillips, unfortunately ended walking back on using optical discs for the N64's physical media.

The only truly relevant gaming development created wholly by Sony and that would become an industry standard is the Dual Analog/DualShock controller configuration.

You act as if Nintendo is the first one to ever think to make classic versions of old consoles with a bunch of games on it.

Companies have been doing it with Atari and other alike consoles for ages. As far as im aware. Nintendo does not own the intellectual rights to this. So your comment is nothing buy rabid fanboying over nothing.

Uh? When did I ever say that Sony shouldn't do it or that there is a patent to it? I merely mentioned that Sony is constantly copying Nintendo which is a verifiable fact with many, many examples. Then you tried to counter with a false claim, which I disproved, then you got angry and insulted me. (Also, while other companies have done re-releases or remakes of their own consoles, Nintendo was the first to make a "mini" version of the exact same look and feel of the old machine, which constituted an undeniable marketing slam dunk.)

Who is more of a fanboy? Somebody who makes a pithy, yet informed and true statement or the guy who gets worked up over it?

Uh, if they did the work for Nintendo, that isn’t copying. Nintendo has copied a lot of other companies to release a better version of the original concept. May wanna brush up on your gaming history, mate.

Haha, precious. I think it's quite obvious that I'm talking about "concepts" or "ideas". If Sony worked jointly with Nintendo on what would be the generation-defining optical-media console is because Nintendo brought them in after coming up with the /idea/.

Also, sure, Nintendo has also been developing off the feedback from the rest of the industry. Did I not mention the dual analogue in another post? That doesn't take any truth away from the fact that Sony has been specifically copying Nintendo's ideas since it created the PSX.

If this is an annoying truth for you because you're a PlayStation fan, don't take it poorly. Sony often improves and adds polish to those ideas, only to have them re-regurgitated by Microsoft.

Are you all ignoring the Namco NeGcon controller? This had anolog buttons for Accel and Braking, plus being able to twist the controller like steering wheel. Was released before the N64.
Is a Third Party product, but Namco and Sony are always in bed together......

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